6.4- Train wreck killed two young people. A spiritual memorial day.

-
6.4

Memorial Day for Spiritual Soldiers

August 29, 1959 was a hard day in my hometown of Ladonia, Texas. A train wreck killed one of our most outstanding students, Gene Turman. He was a great student and athlete and loved by all who knew him. I remember that our whole community was saddened by this tragic event. He had been called by God to be a minister and his gravestone includes these words from Scripture,
“I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4.7

Yesterday as I thought about the death of soldiers who had died for our country I thought also about soldiers of Jesus Christ who had been an influence me in my own life. Because human life includes death and judgement there is an awareness that how we live affects how we die and how we are remembered. Those of us who are Christian believe that our eternal home in heaven is set by the grace and mercy of God, not by our own works. The truth is that our choices in life do have consequences and the greater our hope in God the greater we grow in our love of God’s ways. Jesus taught that life includes learning about the nature of human life.

John 5.
"25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is [f]the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment."

Jesus teaches that our choices have consequences in this life and in the next life. I am thankful for the good examples of young and old who have gone on, but their example of a Godly life remains to teach us. I will be reminded today to thank God for His mercy and grace to us. If you are young don’t take life for granted. Live a life guided by a love for God and your neighbor.

Larry Wishard
5.29.18

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9.4- Broken eggs.

-
Image
9.4- Broken eggs. I had been warned Don't try to carry too much in from the grocery store at once. Learn the hard way or the easy way. Why does the only thing that falls off is the most fragile? The carton was crushed. Several eggs were broken. I have learned to keep looking when a little frustration comes to stay alert. Some good can come out of something bad. Getting laid off from the wrong job can lead to the right job. Getting bumped from the wrong flight to get the right flight, five minutes later plus a free flight. Now I watch for the turn and learn from frustrating little things. Broken eggs. Scrambled eggs. Romans 12 14  Bless those who persecute  [ q ] you; bless and do not curse.   15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.   16  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be  [ r ] haughty in mind, but  [ s ] associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.   17  Never repay evil for evil to anyone.  [ t ] Respect what is right
Read more

9.2- There was this grasshopper who appeared to be very old and very wounded.

-
 9.2- There was this grasshopper who appeared to be very old and very wounded. He drug himself along. Where he was amazed me. On the ground level at the gas station near Gordon Texas was dirt and oil and the danger of feet and tires. As I pumped 39.30 worth of fuel I wondered how did he get out of the dirt and danger to the safety of the top of the gas pump? As I get older I sometimes feel I am dragging along like a grasshopper. My spirit is fueled by seeing how my life includes my maker providing safety for me by the help of family, friends and strangers. Two such are my nephew, Lynn And Sheri Luttrell. He is a prof. at ACU and she the owner and leader of stepping Stones school. Got to spent two days of fun, 42 and homemade ice cream last week. Ecclesiastes 12. 12  Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;   2  before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened
Read more

9.3- I have been given a bed to go to sleep in where a window is high and laying on my back I can see

-
 9.3- I have been given a bed to go to sleep in where a window is high and laying on my back I can see the moon at times. Flat of my back I can choose to think of the maker of the moon. A space craft from India landed there yesterday near the south pole of the moon where they think there may be water. Once the greatest human who ever lived faced his hardest days. He spoke words of steady trust and submission to his loving heavenly Father, maker of heaven and earth. "If possible may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26. 39  And He went a little beyond  them , and fell on His face and prayed, saying,  “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You  will .”   40  And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter,  “So, you  men  could not keep watch with Me for one hour?   41  Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is  [ p ] willing,
Read more